Die assembly for forming hollow metal articles



Jam 1940- FQB. WENDEL 2,188,197

DIE ASSEMBLY FOR FORMING HOLLOW METAL ARTICLES Filed May 11, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 23, 1940.

' F. B. WENDEL DIE ASSEMBLY FOR FORMING HOLLOW METAL ARTICLES a s eets-sheet 2 has/77 08 Jan. 23, 1940.

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Jan. 23, 1940. Fl B. WENDEL 2,188,197

' I DIE ASSEMBLY FOR FORMING HOLLOW METAL ARTICLES Filed May 11, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 23, 1940. F. B. WENDEL 2,188,197

DIE ASSEMBLY FOR FORMING HOLLOW METAL ARTICLES Filed May 11. 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 l a? l v v F I Patented Jan. 23, 1940 rrs srr DIE ASSEIWBLY FOR FORMING HOLLOW METAL ARTICLES Frans B. Wendel, Long island City, N. Y.

Application May 11, 1937, Serial No. 141,936

1 Claim. (01. 1l344) This invention relates to an improvement in die assemblies and particularly to die assemblies for forming hollow metal articles.

One of the objects of the present invention'is to provide a superior die assembly of the character referred towhich may be produced at a low cost for manufacture.

A further object is to provide a superior die assembly in which the component units may be -readily opened and closed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a superior die assembly for forming hollow metal articles in which various die units may be interchangeably assembled to thus provide for the economical production of various sizes of a given type of hollow metal article. I

A still further object is to provide superio means for holding in assembled relationship the component units of a die assembly for forming i9 hollow metal articles.

With the above and otherobjects in view, as

will appear to those skilled in the art from the 30 Fig. l is a broken view mainly in front elevation and partly in vertical section showing a portion of a power press and a die assembly therein suitable for producing wrought-metal pipe-Ts, the units of the die assembly being 35 shown in their closed and locked positions;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1 but showing the die assembly in plan; v

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view 40 taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 but on a slightly reduced scale and showing the die assembly opened;

45 Fig. 5 is a-perspective view of the die assembly of the preceding figureswith one of the guide dies shown detached and in vertical longitudinal section;

Fig. 6 is a view mainly in side elevation and 50 partly in vertical central section of the second stage T blank;

Fig. '7 isa similar View of the third-stage T blank; I

Fig. 8 is a corresponding view of the fourthstage T-blanlr;

Fig. 9 is a similar view of a finished T;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of another deflecting-die unit'which may be used,- and is shown in conjunction with, the same guide-die units which are illustrated in Fig. 5, to produce a re- 5 ducing-T blank like that shown in Fig.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view partly in section of a reducing-T;

Fig. 12 is a view partly in front elevation and partly in vertical central longitudinal section illustrating a die assembly for, the production of elbows;

Fig. 13 is a top or plan view thereof;

Fig. 14 is a broken view thereof in end elevation; and 1 l 15 Fig. 15 is a view partly in side elevation and mainly in central longitudinal section of an elbow which may be produced by the die assembly of Figs. 12 to 14 inclusive.

The embodiment of the present invention herein chosen for illustration in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, includes a vertically-shiftable die-unit 20, which for convenience of description may be designated as a deflecting-die unit. In its upper face, the said unit 20 is formed with three (more or less) longitudinal deflecting-grooves 2l--2i-2i; which in the instance shown are of semicircular form in cross-section to accommodate the lower half of the run portion of a sheet-metal T. At the respective opposite ends of eachof the defiect ing-grooves 2| is installed a removable cylindrical stop-abutment 22 for the purpose as will hereinafter appear.

1 At each of its respective opposite ends, the

deflecting-die unit 20 is formed with an upwardly-facing stop-rib 23, the upper face of each of which is adapted to engage with the underface of a stop-rib 24, one of whichlatter is formed upon each of two complemental retaining-bars 25 rigidly attached to the'die-bed 26 40 of a power press, generally designated by the numeral 27.

The power press 27, above referred to, may be of any approved type and requires no detailed description herein otherthan to say that it ineludes two upright frame-members 28-48, between which is guided, with capacity for vertical reciprocation, an outer plunger-head 29, and within which latter is mounted a second or inner plunger-head 30 capable of independent vertical movement with respect to the-said outer plungerhead 29.

In its under-face, the deflecting-die unit formed with a plurality of downwardly-opening spring-pockets 3|. into each of which fits the up 5 unit 34 form in. conjunction with-the similar but its lower end seated in the aligned one of a plurality of upwardly-opening spring-pockets 33 formed in the upperface of the die-bed 26. The said releasing-springs exert a constant effort to lift the deflecting-die unit 20' upwardly to engage the upper face of the stop-ribs 23-23 of the said unit with the under-face of the stopribs 24-24 upon the inner faces of the retaining-bars 25-25.

Mounted upon the upper face of the deflecting-die unit and movable longitudinally therealong is a pair of complemental guide-die units 34 and 35, each of which is formed'along its lower front and rear corners with a depending guide-rib 36-36 fitting into longitudinal guidegrooves 31-31 formed in the upper front and rear corners respectively of the deflecting-die unit 20.

Each of the guide-die units 34 and 35 is formed in its under-face with three (more or less) horizontal grooves 38-38 of semicircular form in cross-section and registering with the similarlyshaped deflecting-grooves 2| in the deflecting die unit 20, so as to form in conjunction therewith three parallel cylindrical recesses on each of the respective opposite sides of the vertical transverse center of the said unit 20. intersecting each of the horizontal grooves 38 in the guide-die units 34 and 35 is a'vertical guide-groove 39, three of which latter are formed in the inner abutting faces 40 of the said units 34. and 35Has especially well shown in Fig. 5.

The vertical guide-grooves 39, above referred to, in the guide-die units 34 and 35 are also of semicircular form in cross-section and each is connected at its lower end to the inner end of a complemental horizontal groove 38 by a rounded portion 4|. When the three die-units 20, 34 and 35 are in their closed positions, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the vertical guide-grooves 39 of the oppositely-opening grooves of the unit 35, a vertically-extending cylindrical guide-passage which intersects at its lower end the central portion of a horizontal passage, also of cylindrical form in cross-section, and the lower half of which is formed by the deflecting-grooves 2| in the unit 28 and the upper half of which is formed by the mating horizontal grooves 38 in the respective under faces of the guide-die units 34 and 35.

As will be noted by reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 in particular, two opposed guide-bars 42-42 are secured to the upper face of the'die-bed 26 and accommodate between them the deflecting-die unit 20 and the lower portions of the guide-die units 34 and 35. Carried by each ofv the guidebars 42-42 is a stop-bar 43, the under-surface comer of the left-hand retaining-bar 25. Simiof which is adapted to be engaged by the upper face of a longitudinalstop-rib 44, one of which latter is formed upon the respective front and rear faces of each of the guide-die units 34 and 35 adjacent the lower edge thereof.

The lower left corner of the guide-die unit 34 is formed with a bevel or locking-cam surface 45 which is adapted, when the die-units are closed and locked as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, to engage with a similarly-sloping bevel or locking-cam surface 46 formed at the upper right larly, the lower right corner of the guide-die unit 35 is formed with a bevel or locking-cam surface 41; engageableunder the conditions just referred to with a similarly-sloped bevel or locking-cam per end of a helical releasing-spring 32 having surface 43 formed at the upper left corner of the right-hand'retaining-bar 25.

The upper portion of the left-end wall of the guide-dieunit 34 and the upper portion of the right-end wall of the complemental unit 35 are each slightly inclined off the vertical plane as shown. to provide locking-cam surfaces 49-49 which are respectively engageable by similarlysloping locking-cam surfaces 50-50 respectively formed upon two oppositely-arranged L-shaped locking-shoes 5l-5i rigidly secured within a downwardly-opening recess 52 formed in the' under-face of a die-locking member 53 rigidly attached to the under-face of the outer plungerhead 29 of the power press 21.

For the purpose of shifting the guide-die units 34 and 35 into their open and closed positions, each of the said units has projecting outwardly from its outer face an eye-member 54 which extends, with freedom for slight vertical movement.

into the notch in the bifurcated forward end 55 of an operating-lever 56 oscillating in a horizontal plane upon a stud 51 mounted in the frame of the power press 27. The forward end of each of the two operating-levers 56 is loosely coupled to the adjacent one of the eye-members 54 by means of a vertical coupling-pin 5'8, and the respective rear ends of the said operating-levers .are loosely connected by means of coupling-pins 59-59 to an operating -plunger 68 which reciprocates toward and away from the rear face of the die-assembly and which may be operated by any approved mechanism such, for instance, as by a hydraulic cylinder and piston.

Secured to the inner plunger-head 30 of the power press 2! are three corresponding plungers SI-BI-Bl, spaced apart so as to respectively enter the three similarly-spaced guide-passages plunger at a' predetermined point below the thrust-shoulder 62.

In the operation of the mechanism above described, a test tube shaped blank 64 of copper or other suitable material is inserted between each of the opposed guide-grooves 39 in the guidedie units 34 and 35, while the same are separated as shown in Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.

The plunger 60 is now moved rearwardly to .thus effect, through the intermediary of the opcrating-levers 58-56 and associated parts, the closure of the guide-die units 34 and 35. The outer plunger-head 29 is now caused to descend, so that the opposed locking-cam surfaces 50-50 of the locking-shoes 5'l-5l seat against the locking-cam surfaces 49-49 of the guide-die units 34 and 35, to tl'ius hold the said units against separation. The continued. downward movement of the outer plunger-head 29 and the parts carried thereby will depress both the now closed guide-die units 34 and 35 and the deflecting-die unit 20 against the counter-urge of the releasing-springs 32. The movement just referred to.

will cause the locking-cam surfaces 45 and 41 respectively of the said units 34 and 35 to be firmly engaged with the locking-cam surfaces 48 and 45 of the retaining-bars 25-25. When the cam-surfaces 45 and 41 are respectively engaged with the deflecting-die unit 26 will be firmly seated against the upper face of the die-bed 26.

The inner plunger 30 is now forced downwardly so as to cause the reducedlower ends ofthe plungers 6! to enter the aligned first-stage blanks 68', which latter have been previously filled with oil or other suitable liquid. As the lower endof a given one of the plungers 6i enters the open upper end of a first-stage blank 64, the fiuid in the said blank will be forced outwardly from the relief-passage 63 until such time as the horizontal reach of the said passage is' covered by the inner surface of the blank, whereupon hydraulic pressure will be built up within the said blank, with the effect of slightly swelling its lower portion outwardly in opposite directions into the horizontal cavity\ in the die-assembly. 1

When in the continued downward movement of the plungers, their thrust-shoulders 62 engage with the upper ends of the aligned blanks 66, the said blanks will be forced bodily downwardly in the vertical guide-passages of the dieassembly, in which the blanks are located, and will be deflected outwardly to form embryonic T-shaped blanks 65, which latter for convenience of description may be designated as secondetage blanks.

The plunger-heads 29 and 30 are now retired upwardly to the position in which they are indicated in Fig. 4, whereupon the deflecting-die unit,

20 and the guide-die units 34 and 85 Willbe elevated by the springs 32 until checked'by the stop-means already described. The plunger 89 is now moved forwardly toward the die-assembly to effect, through the intermediary of the operating-levers 56, the separation or opening of the guide-die units 3% and 85'. .The parts will now have assumed the positions in which they are shown in Fig. i.

The second-stage blanks 65 (three of which have been simultaneously formed) may now be removed from the now open die-assembly for the purpose of annealing the said blanks. Other seeond-stage blanks which have been previously an-. nealed may be introduced between guide-die units 34 and 85, and the operation above described may be repeated to convert such second-stage blanks into blanks 66 of the character shown in Fig. '7, which blanks for convenience of description may be designated as third-stage blanks. Three third-stage blanks, after being annealed, are introduced into the die-assembly, and the operation above described again repeated to simultaneously produce three blanks 6'l of the character shown in Fig. 8, which blanks may be designated as fourth-stage'blanks. It will I be noted that the fourth-stage blanks just referred to have the respective opposite ends of their run portions flattened out, so to speak,

as at 68-68, by having been forced into engagement, during the last operation, with the inner ends of the cylindrical stop-abutments- It is preferred, during each successive 22-22. operation to convert a blank of one stage into a blank of the next stage, that the plunger 65 be Should it be desired to produce a reducing T such as i0 illustrated in Fig. 11, a deflectingdie unit ll (Fig. 10) may be substituted for the deflecting-die unit 20 before described and placed in assembled relationship with respect to the guide-dies 34 and 35. .The said deflecting-die unit ll corresponds in all essentials to the defleeting-die unit 28 but instead of being provided in its upper face with semi-cylindrical deflecting-grooves the said unit H is provided with three (more or less) relatively deep deflectinggrooves 72 which in conjunction with the registering horizontal grooves 38 of the guide-die units 34 and 35 will laterally circumscribe a passage which may be characterized as of generally oval form in crosssection.

The resultant T blank whichmay be produced by a die assembly comprising the units 34, 85 and M will be characterized by a branch F3 corresponding in diameter to the branches of the blanks of Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive but having an oval run portion M (indicated by broken lines in Fig. 11) of much greater perimeter. The trimmed blank may now be shaped by any suitable tools to convert its substantially oval run portion I l into cylindrical'form 15 as is indicated by full lines in Fig. 11.

By providing a die assembly which is divided in planes transverse to the plane of the T to be produced rather than dividing the dies in a plane parallel with the fiatwise ,plane of the 'T not only is interchangeability achieved but the various units may be accurately and economically produced. For instance, the deflecting-grooves 2! of the deflecting-die unit maybe conveniently produced by a simple milling operation and similarly both the horizontal and vertical grooves 38 and 39 of the guide-die units may be milled. Furthermore in forming the rounded portion or fillet M interconnecting the adjacent ends of the grooves 38 and 38, the dieflecting-die unit which comprises a base-block l5 and a-vertical block '76 rigidly secured together by a suitable number of dowel-pins Ti and screws 18. The respective opposite vertical walls of the vertical block 16 are each formed with a plurality of vertical guide-grooves 18 each of which is smoothly merged by an arcuate defleeting-groove 80 with a groove 8i formed in the upper face of the base-block I5. The grooves 19, 88 and 8| are in effect continuousand are all of semicircular form in cross-section.

Fitting into the angular notch-like portions provided on each of the respective opposite sides of the vertical block 16 is a guide-die unit 82 having a vertical guide-groove 83 which is smoothly merged by an arcuate groove portion 84 with a horizontal groove 85 formed in the underface of the unit 82. As illustrated-in the left portion of Figs. 12 and 13 the horizontal terminal of a given one of the three L-shaped channels provided by the mating grooves 19, 83, 88, at, an, as is blocked by a cylindrical stop-abutment 86 having in its inner face a hemispherical recess 81. After having been ,filled with oil or the like, an initially test tube shaped sheet-metal blank '88 is displaced longitudinally by means of one of the plungers 89, until it seats in the recess 81' of the local stop-abutment 86. I

The lower terminals of the right-hand series of L-shaped passages provided in the die. assembly are blocked off by a plane-ended stopabutment 90 and are being utilized as shown to produce elbow blanks 9! of a stage more advanced than the blanks 88 shown to the left of Figs. 12 and 13. The blanks 9| are forced into the diecavity, after being suitably annealed and filled with fluid, by suitable plungers such as 92,.

and are thus provided at their lower outer ends with fiat integral end walls 93 which may be later removed to produce an elbow 94 of the character illustrated in Fig. 15. The elbow 94 may, if desired, have one or both of its respective opposite ends expanded or, bellmouthed as indicated by broken lines 95 in Fig. 15.

The guide-die units 82, 82 and the deflectingdie unit comprising the major parts 15 and 16 are provided with stop-ribs,v locking-cam surfaces, etc., of the same general character as the die units of the preceding figures and bear corresponding reference characters.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are,- therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claim are in tended to be embraced therein.

I claim: a r

A die-assembly for forming hollow metal articles comprising: three complementary die-units which together provide connecting laterallyclosed guideand deflecting-channels, two of said die-units being movable relatively toward and from one another and each having a sloping locking-surface; locking-means movable in a path transverse to the said path of movement of the said two die-units and straddling the lattr, the said locking-means having sloping lockingsurfaces engageable with the said sloping sur- 1 faces of the said two die-units to lock the latter against movement relatively away from one another; and the third die-unit engageable with both of the said two die-units and movably mounted to be shiftable in a path transverse to the said pathof movement of said two die-units; and means for shifting said third die-unit.

FRANS B. WENDEL. 

